Quote:
Originally Posted by lexluthor
I have a 2001 Maxima with about 75K miles. The AC recently stopped working. It blows air that I'd said is cooler than air temp, but on a hot day, it doesn't really cool off the car.
Are the odds decent that it's just going to be a recharge that fixes this or if a recharge is needed, typically, there's a leak too that needs to be fixed?
Still could be compressor or something real expensive too?
I really have no idea and it's not really something I know anything about, so I just want to make sure when I take it in, I can validate some of what the shop tells me.
Thanks in advance.
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There is no way to tell what the problem is or the cost to correct your problem but you can check the pressure in the system and recharge it yourself. It's not hard to do.
The system is supposed to hold 1.32 to 1.54 pounds of refrigerant. Check the system with a gauge to see if your system is within this range. If it isn't then put some refrigerant in the system and see if you notice any difference in performance of the AC system. You can buy recharge kits at your local auto parts store.
Check the pressure after some usage periodically to see if it maintains the proper pressure. If the system cools the car more effectively then you've found the problem. If the pressure drops over time and the AC becomes less effective then you've got a leak somewhere that is letting coolant escape.
You'll have to take your car to a shop to find a leak unless it is audible or visible to the naked eye. A technician will put dye in the system or use something that can detect freon leakage if I recall correctly.